Bangkok Demonstrations

For several months, a group of self-proclaimed democracy activists  has tried to topple the successor government of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Here are some pictures of the anti-government campaign I took during my visit to the occupied territory around Government House.

I included some of the images displayed here in my photo essay on the demonstrations (see New Mandala).

Mongolian Electoral Campaigning

In June 2008, parliamentary elections took place. During the electoral campaign period, candidates engaged in a variety of electoral campaign activities. The streets were full of posters and banners; and poltical advertisements could be found in newspapers, magazines and on TV. 

Taiwanese Cheerleaders

Apart from military personnel at colleges and universities around Taiwan, there are other things that appear to be rather strange to someone who grew up in Austria. Cheerleaders, for example, play an important role in higher education. Colleges and universities organize contests and offer preferential treatment to participating students.

Cafe Batavia

Located just 10 minutes from Jalan Thamrin, Cafe Batavia (Jakarta) is an amazing place to relax, enjoy some coffee and chat with friends. It has become one of the most popular venues for all kinds of special events.

Kyoto

Kyoto is an ancient city that was established as Japan's capital under the name heian-kyo in the year 794. The city has greatly contributed to Japan's industrial, economic and cultural development and strength. With a population of about 1.4 million, Kyoto is Japan's seventh largest city.

Ulan Bator/Terelj

Ulan Bator is the capital of Mongolia. Approximately 40 percent of the country's 2.9 million people live in Ulan Bator. Mongolia declared independence in 1911 and has emerged as the only democratic state in Central Asia. Gorkhi-Terlelj National Park is 40 kilometres away from Ulan Bator.

Singapore

In the nineteenth century, Singapore developed into an important trading post in Southeast Asia. The city-state officially gained sovereignty in August 1965. It has a population of about 5 million people, most of whom Chinese.

Taipei

Taipei is the largest city on the island of Taiwan. After the Communist victory in China, Chiang Kai-shek and his followers retreated to Taiwan and declared Taipei the provisional capital of the Republic of China.

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Saigon

Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam and the country's most important economic centre. The area that the city now occupies was inhabited by Khmer people for centuries before the arrival of the Vietnamese. In 1975, the city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City.

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Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. For over two hundred years, it has been the political, social and economic centre of not only Thailand but for much of Southeast Asia as well.

Trieste/Muggia

Trieste is a city and port in northeastern Italy. It flourished as part of Austria between the fourteenth and early twentieth century. After its annexation to Italy in 1918, the city lost its economic and cultural importance. Muggia is the last and only flap of Istria still in Italian territory, after the dissolution of the Free Territory of Trieste in 1954.

Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest city in China in terms of population. Originally a fishing and textiles town, Shanghai grew to importance in the 19th century due to its favourable port location. The city flourished as a center of commerce between east and west, and became a multinational hub of finance and business by the 1930s.